Protests at Villa as Toffees draw

Hendrie evades Cleland and Gemmill at Villa Park

Aston Villa 0-0 Everton
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Protests by Aston Villa fans against chairman 'Deadly' Doug Ellis overshadowed events on the pitch, as Everton shared the honours in a drab goalless draw.

Both sides had chances to take all three points but the match was characterised by a lack of precision and composure in front of goal.

The result means Everton are now undefeated in six league and cup games.

But the point was hardly what Villa caretaker managers Stuart Gray and John Deehan had been looking for.

The game was most memorable for the demonstrations against Ellis - with the Villa fans making their feelings known about the situation at the club.

Villa's fans protested against chairman Doug Ellis

On the day former boss John Gregory was appointed Derby manager, over 1,000 supporters gathered outside the ground before the game in protest at Ellis and the club's board of directors.

Placards bearing the slogan 'Ellis out' were held aloft outside the Trinity Road stand and when the chairman took his seat - four minutes into the game - he was greeted with a chorus of boos.

Villa almost took the lead after 12 minutes.

Paul Merson's in-swinging corner was met by Darius Vassell, but the striker's header drifted narrowly wide.

It was an unusual atmosphere, a different sort to what most players will have played in before

Aston Villa caretaker manager John Deehan

Everton's best moment of the first half came when Alex Cleland - on as a substitute for the injured Tony Hibbert - peeled off at the far post to get on the end of a deep right-wing centre from Danny Cadamarteri.

But the former Scotland international failed to get full power into his header, which was saved with relative comfort by Peter Enckelman, who was deputising for the injured Peter Schmeichel.

Merson made a good break into the Everton penalty area but his poor finish - straight at Steve Simonsen - summed up a disappointing first half.

Vassell was replaced at half time by fit-again Dion Dublin - and the former England striker quickly made his presence felt.

He turned a pass from Moustapha Hadji into the path of Merson.

I felt we did have the better opportunities so I am a little bit frustrated

Everton manager Walter Smith

But the Villa skipper's weak low shot was easily saved by Simonsen.

Merson provided one of the few highlights of the night just before the 60-minute mark when a surging 40-yard run ended with a thumping drive which beat Simonsen but cannoned back off the crossbar.

There was little else to savour until injury time when Everton substitute Nick Chadwick blazed over the bar from close range.

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Aston Villa: Enckelman, Delaney, Mellberg, Staunton, Samuel, Boateng, Merson, Hendrie (Kachloul 75), Hadji, Vassell (Dublin 45), Angel.

Subs Not Used: Myhill, Barry, Stone.

Booked: Angel.

Everton: Simonsen, Hibbert (Cleland 25), Clarke, Naysmith, Stubbs, Unsworth, Gemmill, Moore, Cadamarteri (Chadwick 71), Ferguson, Campbell.

Subs Not Used: Gerrard, Tal, McLeod.

Booked: Clarke, Naysmith, Ferguson.

Att: 32,460

Ref: C Foy (St. Helens).